As for he Lakers being Butler’s second potential destination, this is not a surprising development. Throughout his career, the four-time All-Star has been linked to Los Angeles and a partnership is possible this time around since he will not be a restricted free agent.

With LeBron James and a talented young core, the Lakers have preserved cap space for another max-contract player by filling out the roster with one-year deals. While the focus is on the 2018-19 NBA season, signing another All-Star player to legitimately compete in the short- and long-term is an exciting prospect.